Titans Snap Two-Game Losing Streak With 68-57 Win Over Rival Long Beach State

FULLERTON, CA -
Cal State Fullerton senior Charlee Underwood scored a team-high 19 points and led two other teammates in double figures as the Titans snapped a two-game losing streak with a 68-57 Big West Conference women's basketball victory over Long Beach State on Thursday night at Titan Gym.

The win improved Fullerton to 8-11 overall and 3-3 in league play while the 49ers lost their second straight in falling to 4-15 overall, 1-4 in the Big West.

Underwood was 5-of-14 from the floor and grabbed eight rebounds in a solid all-around night that included three assists and three steals.

Sophomore Toni Thomas scored in double figures in her eighth consecutive game, finishing with 18 points and nine rebounds to narrowly miss a double-double. Junior Dayana Frias finished with 12 points in her first start of the year.

Fullerton's defense offset a strong shooting night by Long Beach State, which hit on just under 45 percent from the field for the game. The Titans, who lead the league in forcing turnovers, forced the 49ers into 19 miscues on the night, turning those into 30 points.

Fullerton also grabbed 19 offensive rebounds to just six for Long Beach State, leading to 18 second chance points, and the Titans outrebounded the 49ers, 41-32, for the game.

Cal State Fullerton led wire-to-wire, building a 14-point first-half advantage and leading by as many as 20 points with 4:35 remaining in the game.

The 49ers closed to within three points with just over 14 minutes left in the game, but a three-pointer by Underwood jumpstarted a 16-2 run by the Titans over the next six-and-a-half minutes as Fullerton went up 59-42 with just under eight minutes to go and the Titans never looked back.

Sophomore Karina Figueroa scored a career-high 29 points - including Long Beach State's first 15 points of the game and 20 of her final total in the first half on 8-of-13 shooting.

Tyresha Calhoun also finished in double figures for the 49ers with 15 points on 4-of-4 shooting and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.

Fullerton will look for the sweep of its traditional rivals at home for the second straight season as the Titans host UC Irvine on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 20) at 2 p.m.